This is the first show on the Dead's self-organized spring 1968 tour, which I've read was the first self-organized and promoted show by any major label band. Ever.

My parents saw one of the Portland shows. They were folkies and left after half an hour because "it was too loud" lol. In fact my mom -- who's a lawyer -- ended up suing the band but for a valid reason (she was a personal injury lawyer at the time and a light fell on some girl's head).

She said she talked to the band's staff and it took them a while to find the insurance policy -- shocker! -- but they were very cool about it, felt terrible for the young lady and had no beef with getting her taken care of.

YER MAN IS CORRECT YOU... will CONTINUE TO RETURN..AND ENJOY. Beast/best Dead ever!!! Who was even close to this in 68/69? influential...ya think? ...and again.

500 mcg level stuff, folks
Om.....

Essential.

This is one of the best sets in what was a truly great run of shows in January 1968, a month that is comparable with May 1977. What makes this set so special is the short and sweet (studio arrangement) Dark Star, and, of course, Clementine, the Lesh/Hunter tune that was rarely played and even less often traded. This January 20th show is one of only 4, the others being January 23 and February 2, 1968 and January 26, 1969.

I'm rather new in my dead listening career, being maybe 8 months or so, but man this is a whopper. This is the quickest tempo I've ever heard them play Dark Star at and it jams so well. It's not the usual ethereal, psychedelic jam they usually create, which caught my ear immediately. I was so sad when it cut out!

a little short, considering how long their shows would start to be by the end of 1969-1994. But it's all killer, no filler. BTW, Pigpen's organ playing sounds very good here. Surprisingly short Dark Star

Yes it sounds jazzy. It sounds jazzy as the drum rhythm is swinging with the focus on the cymbal. Clemtine: especially on the keys you can hear "My favorite things" which of course was a jazz standard made famous by John Coltrane.

I love all time periods of GD. All the pieces of the puzzle that are beyond words of description to the newcomer. It take so much patience to really get the picture. This ain't drive through baby!

Great source, above-average show.
Not the best '68 but worth hearing.
Road Trips 2-2 adds Viola & Schoolgirl. New Potato>Born Crosseyed are average-to-above-average examples of '68 Dead.

I agree with everyone. Some amazing Dead going on here.

Everyone is ON for this performance. Outstanding Dead!!!!!

looking through the reviews i was expecting to see something in everyone about that smokin jam!!! just saying...short but sweet!

...are on RT2/2, the filler and bonus disc stuff - you can bump this show up to around an hour if you're in a Dark Star-tape-cut frenzy and need more from this diamond of a show...

**Viola Lee Blues is filler for disc 1, and it's another jaw-dropping performance from this era. No explanation needed for those in the know.

**Schoolgirl is on the bonus disc, track 2, another delightfully naughty blues romp with Pigpen in fine form.

The rest of this show is one of those that we deadheads should be happy as can be for, but *damned* if that cut during Dark Star doesn't just leave us panting and hanging on for more. If they are able to get us additional tracks on RT from the vault, maybe there's more lingering there. What we have now is essential Dead listening.

The New Potato/Cross-Eyed reminds me of peaking!

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Born Cross-Eyed is definitely one of the live sources on Anthem of the Sun. Obviously they chose well. Check out Anthem to Beauty.

The Grateful Dead had several peaks throughout their history. This tour is the peak of their peaks IMO. Yeah its short, but its the essence.

you can download them on Soulseek.

pre-1973 Dead era. Later this year the band went through a lot of changes, including the temporary firing of Weir & Pigpen, and later on Constanten was made the organist and Pig relegated to sort of existing in between soul boogie songs. Listening to this, it's hard to understand why all that happened. Pig & Weir are on fire on this date, joining the rest of the band on tricky, polyrhythmic jams they both admitted to finding difficult at the time. In fact, Weir doesn't sound like any more of an amateur on here than he did by the time I started seeing the Dead in the late '80s. Thanks for another awesome one, Charlie!

A very good recording of a very good show fragment. Clementine is the shining star here, followed closely by a great Spanish Jam. The recording is crisp and reasonably even. This one is a must!

Meet me some morning in the sweet by and by...

... but after listing (and re-listening) to this set, you can't help but feel you're missing out on the beginning and end of the show. That Clementine and Dark Star are both incredible and can't imagine how good they are in their entirety.
No matter, what's here is still 5 stars no question!
Thanks again to Charlie Miller.

whenever I need to practice electric guitar, this is the show I play LOUD. just half an hour is perfect.

lack of material especially with the bookend cuts leaves you wanting more though what you do get is a real treat! nice flow the whole way through, like one long song!

this is absolutely the source you want for this show...that and the show itself is out-fucking-standing...in a previous review, i docked a star due to brevity, but that's just not fair. there's plenty of short snippets like this that i've handed out five to, so this should be no less...

I agree with the other this show is a clean recording and very vital... give it a listen.

Thank you everyone who made this show possible. Jazzy as hell, great show, amazing sound- what a gem.

Note to self:

dude ...you came across the real mccoy.... very very very much ...

careful: it rocks really loud and the recording is the best that could be fabricated

... don't listen to this when falling asleep or waking up ...

... do listen to this when you need to be transported into a world of sounds

oh yea... DO NOT be bummed out about losing DarkStar at the end

BumCity

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~^|\_@|@_/|^~
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Super 68' Soundboard!

A "Must Have" show! Classic 68' Sound, you're gonna freak. This show is a trip. Too bad "Dark Star" fades out 3 minutes into the song...

Thank you Mr. Miller!

Remember to click the "DeadLists Project" link and get the poster for this show.

The IA recommends users of Windows XP view this web-page with RealPlayer. RealPlayer is a free media player you can download at www.realplayer.com.

For easy streaming or downloading use RealPlayer. Click the VBR M3U link to open the songs in the Playlist. If your Playlist is not open, open it by clicking the Playlist icon at the lower right hand corner of RealPlayer. Once the songs are in the Playlist, double click the song to play it, then click the record button at the lower left hand corner of Realplayer to record it. When the red line reaches the other end click the stop button to download the song. Your song is in the RealPlayer Downloads folder. Repeat these steps for each song.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry and Listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD.

Thanks for the LOVE from 1968.

Thank you soooo much for this recording. Humboldt is a destination for a lot of deadhead fanatics. This recording has been such a great reminder that Humboldt has and always will be a refuge for like minded individuals that need a haven. Loving you--always. Sunshine daydream, walk you in the tall trees, of Humboldt.

DAGWOOD

This just might be the best sounding file archived here? It surely is one of the most profoundly jazzy sets the band has ever performed.

January '68 and this suite swings like a Benny Goodman arrangement with Gene Krupa sitting in. It doesn't get any better than this one! (100 pts)

Absolute mastery of the groove, a psychedelic opus. Thanks for liberating the 4 track master of this masterpiece. Just click on Clementine and take the whole ride. This is the kind of show that makes the whole Grateful Dead listening experience worthwhile. You will most likely keep coming back to this show again & again. Thanks to all who made this possible for us to enjoy.